DONALD Trump today attacked Labour’s Net Zero plan and said Britain was making a “big mistake” by retreating from oil and gas.
The incoming US President urged Sir Keir Starmer to “open up” the North Sea and “get rid of the windmills”.
2
His outburst is a blow for the PM who has been trying to build bridges with the Republican strongman ahead of him entering the White House this month.
Trump fired off his criticism following after American oil and gas firms said they would be exiting the North Sea because of massive windfall taxes.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced in her Budget she is hiking the profits levy from 35 to 38 per cent and extending it by a year.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has ruled out awarding new drilling licences when existing ones expire.
Taking to his Truth Social platform, Trump railed: “The UK is making a very big mistake. Open up the North Sea. Get rid of windmills!”
The President-elect’s self-styled policy of “drill, baby, drill” clashes with Sir Keir’s mission to make Britain a “clean energy superpower”.
The UK is to spend tens of billions on green energy over the Parliament, including on new wind turbines.
Mr Miliband has previously said this will help drive down bills in the long term, but critics argue it will cost taxpayers.
Trump’s post was a response to US firm Apache announcing it would quit the North Sea in 2029.
Boss John Christmann said: “After six months of evaluation, we have concluded that the investment required to comply with these regulations… coupled with the onerous financial impact of the [windfall tax] makes production of hydrocarbons beyond the year 2029 uneconomic.”
2